Shoestring-fastener



(No Model.)

-J. M. BLOOM. SHOESTRING FASTENER.

Patented Jan. 19,1897.

avmw/wbow l vflmwm 1 in 4 4% UNITED STATES PATENT EETOE.

JOHN M. BLOOM, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

SHOESTRING FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,412, dated January 19, 1897.

Application filed May 25, 1896. Serial No. 592,948. (No model.)

I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to shoestring-fas teners.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a simple, cheap, and easily-applied fastener of the class described which will more satisfactorily secure the shoestrings.

The invention consists in certain novel features and combinations more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing my invention applied to any ordinary shoe; Fig. 2, a plan view of the fastener, showing the clamping-plate closed; Fig. 3, a like View as the preceding figure, but with the clamping-plate thrown back; Fig. 4:, an end view, and Fig. 5 a side elevation.

The lower member or base 1 is provided with eyelets 2, whereby it may be sewed or otherwise fastened to the shoe, as shown in Figs. 2 and This plate is also provided with a catch member 3, which is struck up from the metal at its lower edge.

The numeral 4 designates a cleat having a base 5, soldered or fastened to the base 1 and provided with outwardly and upwardly branching arms 6 and 7, thereby providing notches 8 and 9. This cleat is preferably located near the lower end of the base and is transversely disposed in relation thereto.

A longitudinally-disposed open coil-spring 10 is suitably secured to base 1 and extends at right angles to cleat 4 from the central portion thereof.

The upper member or clamping-plate 11 has its upper end pivotally connected to the base 1 by a downwardly-extending lip 12, which passes through a slot 13 in the base and is bent back on itself. This clam ping-plate has an elongated slot 14, through which a portion of coil-spring 10 passes.

A downwardly-extending catch member 15, struck up from the lower edge of the clamping-plate, is adapted to engage with the catch member on the base. The arms 16 and 17 thus formed by striking up the catch member are bent back on themselves at 18 and 19, so that no sharp edges will be present to catch in the dress or trousers.

After the shoe has been laced the loose ends are passed in the notches of the cleat and back and forth through the spirals of the coilspring and the clamping-plate then pressed down in position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Any form of ornamental bow or buckle, or both, could be secured to the clamping-plate if it is desired to render the device ornamental.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a shoestring-fastener,the combination with upper and lower clamping members, of spring-arms secured to one of the members and adapted to grasp the shoestrings, and means for holding said members togethelgsub stantially as described.

2. In a shoestring-fastener, the combination with upper and lower clamping members, of

a coil-spring secured to one of the members and adapted to grasp the shoestrings between its spirals, and means for holding the members together, substantially as described.

3. In a shoestring-fastener,the combination with a lower member, and an open coil-spring secured thereto, and adapted to pinch the shoestrings between its coils of an upper member pivoted to the lower member and provided with an opening through which said coil-spring is adapted to pass when the upper member is clamped down on the lower members, and catch mechanism for holding the members together,substantially as described.

4:. In a shoestring-fastener,the combination with upper and lower members pivoted to-.

gether, of a cleat secured to one of the members, spring-arms connected to one of the members, both the cleat and the spring-arms being adapted to receive the shoestrings, and mechanism for holding the members locked together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. BLOOM.

Witnesses:

OSCAR KRUSE, AUeUsr OARLsoN. 

